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Reps Member Slams Deputy Speaker, Says Otti Will Be Re-Elected in 2027

A member of the House of Representatives, Obi Aguocha, has declared that Dr Alex Otti will be re-elected as Abia State governor in 2027.
Aguocha made the declaration in a response to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who reportedly boasted that Otti would be the last member of the Labour Party (LP) to be governor of Abia.
In a statement issued on Monday, Aguocha, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia, said Kalu’s comment on Otti and the LP is “condescending, denigrating, and disrespectful.”
Aguocha said it is hypocritical for Kalu to praise Otti’s administration while simultaneously making negative remarks against the governor.
“My dear colleague, your open vituperation and remarks against our Governor, Labour Party, and Abia State was very condescending, denigrating, and disrespectful in every sense of the word,” the statement reads.
“Your personal opinion and partisanship aside. Your patently repeated boasting and referring to yourself as No. 6 in the order of leadership hierarchy of the Federal Government seen in the video clip portrays you less as a leader and more like a man with an open display of brazenness and rabid indiscretion. I would have advised you otherwise.
“My brother, we are distinguished colleagues with you representing the good people of Bende Federal Constituency. Whilst we elected you to be our Deputy Speaker, it does not confer on you the audacity to declare vacant the seat of the governor of Abia State in 2027.
“By your own striking admission that ‘Dr. Alex Otti is your friend, and he has done very well, too, for our people, but you, Hon. Ben Kalu owe your party, APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a duty to deliver Abia State, a Labour Party state to your party at the centre as payback for the President’s political patronage to the Southeast viz; signing the Southeast Development Commission Act, etcetera.’ What a brazen and uncontrolled outpouring of emotional fury.
“You went on to declare that the President’s party, the APC, will take over Abia State by 2027. I have known you to exhume boldness, which is often misconstrued as excessive arrogance but not this type of pugnacious instability.
“Lest that we are confused, especially in this season of significant economic hardship and high citizen expectations from those of us in government. Would it not have been advisable that we are seen focused on our legislative duties, our constituents, Abia State, and the Southeast at large?
“Sir, you must now use that all-important position as Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives to de-marginalize and reduce the agitation of our people and promote inclusiveness.”
The legislator asked Kalu to declare openly if he harbours gubernatorial ambition, rather than undermine Otti’s administration.
Aguocha said that Abia, under Otti’s leadership, has experienced a significant transformation with widespread support from the electorate.
He warned that any attempts to shift the state’s political direction would be met by strong resistance from residents.
“My beloved brother, with due respect, your comments lacked introspection and reek of recklessness, discernment, lack of humility, lack of rationality, and totally very unreasonable,” the lawmaker said.
“If your ambition is to become the governor of Abia State by 2027, it is your right, but make it plain rather than hiding yourself in the shadows of discontent and display of insincerity and intemperate political culture.
“But I assure you that as you want Abians to repay Tinubu for his good works, so shall Abians repay Alex Otti for his mammoth achievements come 2027. Alex Otti will be reelected governor of Abia State.
“My Right Honourable, this is not the first time the Southeast was blessed with the position of the Deputy Speaker. Right Honourable (Chief) Emeka Ihedioha in 2011. The opportunity now ought not to be wasted only in rubbing shoulders and chanting your No. 6 position at every opportunity.
“Sir, may it please you to note: while we appreciate President Tinubu for signing the Southeast Development Commission into law alongside Development Commissions for every geo-political zone in the country, We have not seen or heard our leader, the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Right Honourable Dr. Tajudeen Abbas cajoling and mocking his people of the Northwest with his own feat of including the Northwest in the Development Commissions as the No 4 citizen in the federation. Humility is indeed a virtue.“
Aguocha urged Kalu to focus on his legislative duties and use his position to promote unity and development in the South East.
Headlines
2025: Again, Kenyan, Ethiopian Athletes Win Lagos City Marathon

The 2025 edition of the annual 42km 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been once again dominated by East African runners from Kenya and Ethiopia.
Kenya’s Edwin Kibet on Saturday emerged winner in the men category, clocking a time of 2:14:06 to win the $50,000 price money.
Kibet came third last year behind his compatriot Bernard Sang who won it with a time of 02:16:49 and another Kenyan Cheprot who came second.
It is Kibet’s second win in the competition following his first victory in the 2023 edition.
In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa emerged victorious clocking a time of 2:37:04 for her first win in the competition.
First Nigerian to finish the race, Nyango Gyang Boyi, made history by finishing in the to 10 positions.
He finished the race in 8th place, clocking a time 2:25:41.58 which will earn him a prize award of $4,000. As the first Nigerian to finish the race, Boyi also won the N2million top prize in the Nigerian category.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was also one of the participants in this year’s Lagos City Marathon.
The 42km race commenced at Western Avenue, in front of the National Stadium Surulere, and finished in front of Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
This year’s edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon had thousands of runners competing for the top prize.
The annual event was to a gold label by the World Athletics in 2023 less than eight years after its first edition.
Headlines
CDS Visa Denial: No Comments, Canadian Embassy Declares

The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has refused to make further comments on circumstances surrounding the denial of visas to some senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, citing privacy policies.
The Authorities however, acknowledged social media reports of the situation.
Musa and some military officials were denied visas to attend an event in Canada honouring war veterans, a situation the CDS revealed during an event in Abuja on Thursday.
Responding on Friday, via its social media handle, the Canadian High Commission stated, “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”
Headlines
PDP Crisis Deepens As Anyanwu Defies Party, Court, Resumes As Secretary

The embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has defied the directive of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) amid the ongoing contention for his position.
Anyanwu, on Thursday, resumed at the PDP National Secretariat and continued his duties from his office, despite the position of the party’s NWC.
In a video call with Lere Olayinka, the spokesman of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Anyanwu said: “As you can see, I’m in my office. These are my people and we are working.”
Showing Olayinka around during the call, Anyanwu said: “You can see them jumping over the fence, that was how I stayed in my office to catch them through the CCTV.”
The video was posted by Olayinka on his Whatsapp status on Thursday.
The battle over the position of PDP National Secretary started when Anyanwu left to contest for the Imo State governorship election.
Following his departure, the South-East caucus of PDP endorsed the party’s National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as his replacement.
Anyanwu lost the election and attempted to force his way back as the PDP’s National Secretary, a move which was vehemently opposed by Ude-Okoye.
On December 20, 2024, an Appeal Court ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye as the PDP’s National Secretary.
On January 28, a fight broke out between Anyanwu’s supporters and Ude-Okoye at the PDP National Secretariat during the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, meeting.
The PDP Governors Forum had affirmed Ude-Okoye as the authentic National Secretary while the party’s NWC also took the same stand.
Similarly, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade also backed Ude-Okoye for the position.
On Thursday, the NWC affirmed Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
The statement reads: “After due consideration of the Memo and the attachments, the NWC overwhelmingly recognizes, acknowledges and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with and obedience to the Judgement of the Court of Appeal, recognizing that there is no subsisting or superseding Judgment or Order from any Court of superior authority or hierarchy.”